Liquidnet
Liquidnet
Liquidnet
Overview
Overview
INTERNSHIP AT LIQUIDNET (TULLETT PREBON)
INTERNSHIP AT LIQUIDNET (TULLETT PREBON)
Role
Product Design Intern
Role
Product Design Intern
Role
Product Design Intern
Description
During my internship at Liquidnet (TP ICAP), I contributed to five key projects, including revamping the design system, creating two dashboards for traders, brokers, and clients, and leading the redesign of trading platforms to enhance user experience. I also conducted research on AI integration for a trading platform as part of the Capstone project. These were presented to the Global, AMEA, and American CEOs, as well as VPs and senior managers, demonstrating the impact of my work.
Description
During my internship at Liquidnet (TP ICAP), I contributed to five key projects, including revamping the design system, creating two dashboards for traders, brokers, and clients, and leading the redesign of trading platforms to enhance user experience. I also conducted research on AI integration for a trading platform as part of the Capstone project. These were presented to the Global, AMEA, and American CEOs, as well as VPs and senior managers, demonstrating the impact of my work.
Description
During my internship at Liquidnet (TP ICAP), I contributed to five key projects, including revamping the design system, creating two dashboards for traders, brokers, and clients, and leading the redesign of trading platforms to enhance user experience. I also conducted research on AI integration for a trading platform as part of the Capstone project. These were presented to the Global, AMEA, and American CEOs, as well as VPs and senior managers, demonstrating the impact of my work.
Timeline
May 2024 - August 2024
Timeline
May 2024 - August 2024
Timeline
May 2024 - August 2024
Collaboration
Product Managers
Global Broking Interns
Software Engineers
Collaboration
Product Managers
Global Broking Interns
Software Engineers
Collaboration
Product Managers
Global Broking Interns
Software Engineers
Discipline
Design Systems
User Interface Design
AI Research
Discipline
Design Systems
User Interface Design
AI Research
Discipline
Design Systems
User Interface Design
AI Research
Tools
Figma
Procreate
Tools
Figma
Procreate
Tools
Figma
Procreate
Most of my work is under NDA. Please reach out to me at umh4@cornell.edu for more details.
Most of my work is under NDA. Please reach out to me at umh4@cornell.edu for more details.
— My Impact
— My Impact
Refined and Developed Liquidnet Design System
Refined and Developed Liquidnet Design System
Revamped 11+ key components, including Buttons, Checkboxes, Data Grids, and Switches,… to enhance functionality and streamline the user experience.
Revamped 11+ key components, including Buttons, Checkboxes, Data Grids, and Switches,… to enhance functionality and streamline the user experience.
Adopted by every team across TP ICAP's global operations, spanning 62 offices in 28 countries, driving consistency and efficiency throughout the entire corporation
Adopted by every team across TP ICAP's global operations, spanning 62 offices in 28 countries, driving consistency and efficiency throughout the entire corporation
Owned and Delivered new Internal Trading Platform
Owned and Delivered new Internal Trading Platform
Partnered with 2 PMs and brokers from the UK office to design the new IOIA Dashboard, optimizing it to streamline tracking and simplify trading for both traders and brokers.
Partnered with 2 PMs and brokers from the UK office to design the new IOIA Dashboard, optimizing it to streamline tracking and simplify trading for both traders and brokers.
Improved tracking efficiency by 25% and reduced trade execution time by 15%
Improved tracking efficiency by 25% and reduced trade execution time by 15%
Created and Designed new Client Portal Dashboard
Created and Designed new Client Portal Dashboard
Collaborated with 2 PMs to deliver new design for the Liquidnet Client Dashboard, creating intuitive interfaces that effectively visualized complex trading data.
Collaborated with 2 PMs to deliver new design for the Liquidnet Client Dashboard, creating intuitive interfaces that effectively visualized complex trading data.
Collaborated and Presented ADAPT-AI Capstone Project
Collaborated and Presented ADAPT-AI Capstone Project
Worked with 4 Global Broking interns to explore AI-driven solutions that focused on automated trade recaps, predictive analysis, data entry automation, and enhanced trade management processes.
Worked with 4 Global Broking interns to explore AI-driven solutions that focused on automated trade recaps, predictive analysis, data entry automation, and enhanced trade management processes.
Presented in front of TP ICAP Global and American region CEOs, COO, CRO, VPs, Head of HR and managers.
Presented in front of TP ICAP Global and American region CEOs, COO, CRO, VPs, Head of HR and managers.
— Background
— Background
Design tools to empower traders across the globe
Design tools to empower traders across the globe
About TP ICAP - Liquidnet
TP ICAP Group is the world’s largest inter-dealer broker, the world’s largest energy & commodities broker, and the world’s leading provider of OTC pricing data. Liquidnet is one of 4 divisions in the TP ICAP group, it is a leading technology-driven agency execution specialist with a buy-side focused client base.
About TP ICAP - Liquidnet
TP ICAP Group is the world’s largest inter-dealer broker, the world’s largest energy & commodities broker, and the world’s leading provider of OTC pricing data. Liquidnet is one of 4 divisions in the TP ICAP group, it is a leading technology-driven agency execution specialist with a buy-side focused client base.
About TP ICAP - Liquidnet
TP ICAP Group is the world’s largest inter-dealer broker, the world’s largest energy & commodities broker, and the world’s leading provider of OTC pricing data. Liquidnet is one of 4 divisions in the TP ICAP group, it is a leading technology-driven agency execution specialist with a buy-side focused client base.
— Context
— Context
Liquidnet wants to connect with clients and businesses who are unfamiliar with trading platforms
Liquidnet wants to connect with clients and businesses who are unfamiliar with trading platforms
While Liquidnet equips traders and brokers with advanced tools for efficient trading, clients—who play a key role in the trading ecosystem—lack a centralized platform to:
While Liquidnet equips traders and brokers with advanced tools for efficient trading, clients—who play a key role in the trading ecosystem—lack a centralized platform to:
Track trading activities in real-time.
Track trading activities in real-time.
Access actionable data related to their trades.
Access actionable data related to their trades.
Explore global market trends and analytics for better decision-making.
Explore global market trends and analytics for better decision-making.
Project Goals
Project Goals
Revamping a cohesive design system to enhance product consistency and branding.
Revamping a cohesive design system to enhance product consistency and branding.
Creating a Client Portal Dashboard to help clients understand their trading activity, access key analytics, and navigate the market with clarity and independence.
Creating a Client Portal Dashboard to help clients understand their trading activity, access key analytics, and navigate the market with clarity and independence.
— Research
— Research
Research Reveals: 100% of brokers and traders spent too much time explaining trading concepts to clients, leading to inefficiency and poor client experience.
Research Reveals: 100% of brokers and traders spent too much time explaining trading concepts to clients, leading to inefficiency and poor client experience.
10+ Conversations and User Interviews with Traders, Brokers, Clients, and Managers to better understand the user experience and pain points.
10+ Conversations and User Interviews with Traders, Brokers, Clients, and Managers to better understand the user experience and pain points.
Clients (Customers)
Clients (Customers)
Clients lack visibility and tools to understand their trades, leading to confusion, reliance on brokers, and low engagement.
Clients lack visibility and tools to understand their trades, leading to confusion, reliance on brokers, and low engagement.
The Team (Brokers and Traders)
The Team (Brokers and Traders)
Brokers waste time explaining basic concepts due to the lack of client-facing tools, reducing efficiency and focus on high-value tasks.
Brokers waste time explaining basic concepts due to the lack of client-facing tools, reducing efficiency and focus on high-value tasks.
Business (TP ICAP)
Business (TP ICAP)
Poor client experience and communication inefficiencies hinder scalability, risk satisfaction, and long-term retention.
Poor client experience and communication inefficiencies hinder scalability, risk satisfaction, and long-term retention.
— The Problems
— The Problems
Clients lack access to essential trading insights, resulting in confusion, dependency on brokers, and a fragmented user experience.
Clients lack access to essential trading insights, resulting in confusion, dependency on brokers, and a fragmented user experience.
Knowledge Gap
Knowledge Gap
Clients lack familiarity with trading concepts, requiring brokers to spend excessive time on explanations instead of high-value tasks.
Clients lack familiarity with trading concepts, requiring brokers to spend excessive time on explanations instead of high-value tasks.
Missing Transparency
Missing Transparency
Customers have minimal visibility into trades, execution, and market trends—resulting in confusion and disengagement.
Customers have minimal visibility into trades, execution, and market trends—resulting in confusion and disengagement.
Limited Post-Trade Insight
Limited Post-Trade Insight
Clients are unaware of post-trade performance outcomes, missed opportunities, and strategy effectiveness.
Clients are unaware of post-trade performance outcomes, missed opportunities, and strategy effectiveness.
— Opportunity
— Opportunity
How Might We
How Might We
Design a client portal that empowers clients with real-time insights, data visibility, and intuitive access to global market trends?
Design a client portal that empowers clients with real-time insights, data visibility, and intuitive access to global market trends?
— Solutions
— Solutions
Results
How might we build collaborative and informative traveling communities for college students?
Clients can quickly see their trading patterns and behavior without digging through noise.
How might we build collaborative and informative traveling communities for college students?
Clients get actionable insights and performance data in one place—ready for analysis or reporting.
How might we build collaborative and informative traveling communities for college students?
Clients feel empowered to explore data on their own and make informed decisions confidently.
How might we build collaborative and informative traveling communities for college students?
— Challenges
— Challenges
Design a Financial Tool without Prior Trading Knowledge
Design a Financial Tool without Prior Trading Knowledge
When my manager first introduced the project, I was completely lost—like they were speaking a different language!
To bridge this gap, I proactively immersed myself in financial terminologies, trading concepts, and platform mechanics. I collaborated closely with my design and project managers to uncover the who, what, when, why, and how—building a solid foundation that informed every design decision I made.
When my manager first introduced the project, I was completely lost—like they were speaking a different language!
To bridge this gap, I proactively immersed myself in financial terminologies, trading concepts, and platform mechanics. I collaborated closely with my design and project managers to uncover the who, what, when, why, and how—building a solid foundation that informed every design decision I made.
When my manager first introduced the project, I was completely lost—like they were speaking a different language!
To bridge this gap, I proactively immersed myself in financial terminologies, trading concepts, and platform mechanics. I collaborated closely with my design and project managers to uncover the who, what, when, why, and how—building a solid foundation that informed every design decision I made.
— Ideations
— Ideations
Understand Trading activity, access key Analytics, and Navigate the Market independently
Understand Trading activity, access key Analytics, and Navigate the Market independently
Early Iteration
How might we build collaborative and informative traveling communities for college students?
Data blocks are tightly packed with minimal spacing. Can’t distinguish primary KPIs from supporting data.
Pie charts are a bit small and crowded with legend items crammed in.
Some text and icon are repeated, and the contrast is low, affecting readability.
Final Design
How might we build collaborative and informative traveling communities for college students?
Introduces more spacing and padding between components.
Prioritizes key metrics in dedicated cards at the top.
Sections are grouped more logically with clear visual separation.
Enlarges charts for better visibility. Streamlines legends and improves color clarity. Aligns charts with consistent sizing and placement.
Access Diverse Data Visualizations
Early Iteration
How might we build collaborative and informative traveling communities for college students?
Insufficient Knowledge Access
Partially addressed. The bubble graphs provide a visual tool, but their complexity may confuse users without additional context or guidance.
Limited Transparency
Partially addressed. The P&L (Profit and Loss) graphs show price trends, but there’s no visibility into broader market dynamics or execution details.
Fragmented Data Integration
Not addressed. The design lacks a unified view, focusing only on returns, volume, and P&L over time.
Final Design
How might we build collaborative and informative traveling communities for college students?
Better Clarity and Usability
Diverse visualizations (heatmaps, slider charts).
Covers a broader range of trading aspects (venue performance, P&L across metrics, trade distribution)
Improved Transparency
Offers detailed breakdowns (e.g., P&L by metric, venue performance) that give clients deeper visibility into their trades, addressing the transparency issue more effectively
Unified Data Integration
Not addressed. The design lacks a unified view, focusing only on returns, volume, and P&L over time.
Have a readable format for drilling into specific Trade Data.
Early Iteration
How might we build collaborative and informative traveling communities for college students?
Insufficient Knowledge Access
Partially addressed. The table provides detailed data, but its readability issues hinder quick understanding.
Limited Transparency
Well addressed. Clients can see specific trade metrics, such as predicted volumes and quantities.
Fragmented Data Integration
Partially addressed. The table provides granular details but doesn’t integrate with the dashboard’s visual elements (e.g., no linking to charts).
Final Design
How might we build collaborative and informative traveling communities for college students?
Improved Readability & Enhanced Visual Consistency
The table includes subtle alternating row colors, enhancing visual hierarchy and making it easier to scan rows.
Maintained Transparency
Retains the detailed metrics of initial design (predicted volumes, quantities, etc.) ensuring clients have the same level of visibility into their trades.
Unified Data Integration
Covers most of the necessary data for clients to keep track of.
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
Takeaways
Takeaways
Designing Intuitive, Data-Driven Interfaces
Designing Intuitive, Data-Driven Interfaces
Working on both internal and external tools and platforms provided deep insights into the complexities of financial systems and the unique user needs within trading environments. It sharpened my ability to create intuitive, data-driven interfaces tailored to industry-specific workflows.
Working on both internal and external tools and platforms provided deep insights into the complexities of financial systems and the unique user needs within trading environments. It sharpened my ability to create intuitive, data-driven interfaces tailored to industry-specific workflows.
Working on both internal and external tools and platforms provided deep insights into the complexities of financial systems and the unique user needs within trading environments. It sharpened my ability to create intuitive, data-driven interfaces tailored to industry-specific workflows.
User-Centered Design in Finance
User-Centered Design in Finance
I conducted extensive interviews with traders and brokers to deeply understand their challenges, workflows, and specific needs. These insights allowed me to design more tailored, user-centric solutions that directly addressed pain points, improving both efficiency and user satisfaction. This experience honed my ability to gather and apply user feedback effectively in high-stakes, fast-paced environments.
I conducted extensive interviews with traders and brokers to deeply understand their challenges, workflows, and specific needs. These insights allowed me to design more tailored, user-centric solutions that directly addressed pain points, improving both efficiency and user satisfaction. This experience honed my ability to gather and apply user feedback effectively in high-stakes, fast-paced environments.
I conducted extensive interviews with traders and brokers to deeply understand their challenges, workflows, and specific needs. These insights allowed me to design more tailored, user-centric solutions that directly addressed pain points, improving both efficiency and user satisfaction. This experience honed my ability to gather and apply user feedback effectively in high-stakes, fast-paced environments.
Curiosity-Driven Learning
Curiosity-Driven Learning
I asked more questions than ever before, driven by a deep curiosity to fully understand how employees interact with our internal financial platform. This inquisitive approach allowed me to gain valuable insights into user behaviors and pain points, enabling me to design more intuitive, user-focused solutions that directly improved platform usability.
I asked more questions than ever before, driven by a deep curiosity to fully understand how employees interact with our internal financial platform. This inquisitive approach allowed me to gain valuable insights into user behaviors and pain points, enabling me to design more intuitive, user-focused solutions that directly improved platform usability.
I asked more questions than ever before, driven by a deep curiosity to fully understand how employees interact with our internal financial platform. This inquisitive approach allowed me to gain valuable insights into user behaviors and pain points, enabling me to design more intuitive, user-focused solutions that directly improved platform usability.
Appreciation
Appreciation
I am incredibly grateful to my manager, Alexander Zandi, Global Head of Product Design at Liquidnet, for being an exceptional mentor. He was always there to patiently listen and thoughtfully answer all my questions, providing invaluable feedback on my designs, career, and life. His guidance, along with the design books and resources he introduced me to, had a profound impact on my growth both as a designer and as a professional.
Special thanks to Karla Otis, Julissa Parra, Sarah Kleinman, my teammates Kristen Coleman, Alex Pantano, Stephanie Peterson and William Duff.
I am incredibly grateful to my manager, Alexander Zandi, Global Head of Product Design at Liquidnet, for being an exceptional mentor. He was always there to patiently listen and thoughtfully answer all my questions, providing invaluable feedback on my designs, career, and life. His guidance, along with the design books and resources he introduced me to, had a profound impact on my growth both as a designer and as a professional.
Special thanks to Karla Otis, Julissa Parra, Sarah Kleinman, my teammates Kristen Coleman, Alex Pantano, Stephanie Peterson and William Duff.
